Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-05-26
STREET RAILWAYS.
The Union Passenger Company Line
tomanchester- Laurel-strest Trans
fers- Various Suggestions.

Ground was broken for the Richmond
Union passenger-railway yesterday at ]
o'c ock at the corner OF Twelfth and Frank.
lin streets, and soon afterwards, with tyen-
ty-fyc men at work, a lively scene was
presented.
Councilman Parrish removed the first
stone, Alderman Hill made the tirst stroke
with pick, and Councilman Murphy re-.
moved ihe first shovelful Of earth.
The work was begun in the presence OF
Mr.. !. Thompson Brown, president OF
the road. several other officers. and a num-
ber Of citizens and press representatives,.
Soon after the work was gotten under
way Mr. Brown invited those present To
The 1t. James Hotel, where refreshments
were served and brief congritrlIatory
speeches on the beginning OF The
work were made by Coupcilmen
Hill, Parrish, and L. Z. Murphy, and
Messrs. James =. Wood, George Hill, aud
X. r. Camp and other members OF the
press. The pleasant occasion concluded
with a speech ty Mr.. Brown, in which he
detailed The proposed workings OF The
road in a clear and comprehensive manner
ELECTRICAL POWER.
Mr.. Brown also referred TO the operation
OF cars by electricity-a power, he said, his
company meant to adopt. with the Coun.
cifs permission. Electricity TO propel
streot.cars is being used IN several oi the
largest cities at the present time with per-
feet suceessand without danger.
Mr. Brown also stated that forty passen.
ger.cars have been ordered. each one ~
which will be propelled by electric motors.
H.. Att-ifl },
aggregating fiftecn.horse power. These
motors will he placed under the cars and
connected with the axlcs. The ears will
be full size and comfortably fitted up.
THE ROUTE.
The contractors, Messrs. II. William Har.
Iis & Co have contracted to build one mile
per week, and expect TO complete the east
trn division Of the Iine by July 1st. Tots
division extends along Franklin street
from Twelfth 10 Twenty first street, thence
up Church.IIill avenue TO Twenty.fith
street, along Twenty.fifth street TO y .treet.
The western division (as heretofore
stated will extend along Bank street TO
Ninth, thence to Franklin, uD Franklin tO
seventh, up seventh to Clay, along Cav 10
Hancock, thence TO Broad, up Broad 70
Harrison, down Harrison TO Beech. down
Beech to Reservoir street, down Reservoir
street to Ashland street, thence into the
new Reservoir Park 10 the keepers house.
At the corner OF Clay and Fifth streets the
main liDe will be intersected by a branch
road extending along Fifth street 10 Baker,
up Baker TO ST. Paul street.
The roads will be about seven miles In
length, and, with the double tracks, there
will be eleven miles Of rails.
TIE rAILs.
The work has been thrown back hy flil-
ure 10 get rails. The company endeavored
to have the rails made here by the lrede.
gar Works; but they found that the rrede-
gar could rot supply them on account OF
not having the rolls.
-Four car. loads OF rails arrived here YES
terd0y. and are now being delivered along
the hne.
A branch road will extend fran the
trunk-line at Seventeenth and franklin
streets to the Chesapeake and Ohio shops.
New Links Of the Old Line.
Nearly all OF the worknen who were en-
gagged on the New reservoir extension OF
the City railway have been transferred TO
the Hollywood branch In order, II possible,
that II may be completed by Memorial
day. After this week all BrOgd-strect ears